Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and favoured a cooperative approach to eliminate the menace from its soil and the region.
“While our resources are overstretched, we remain determined to root out terrorism from the soil of Pakistan and the region, through a cooperative approach,” Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at a weekly press briefing here at the Foreign Office.
In response to a question about the joint statement issued during French president’s visit to India that urged only Pakistan to expedite Mumbai trial, the Spokesman said terrorism was not only India’s problem but also of Pakistan, region and the world.
The Spokesman said Pakistan had rendered enormous sacrifices while combating terrorism to make the world a safer and better place to live.
“Our sacrifices have been appreciated by the international community. We therefore would expect India and
France’s joint statement on counter-terrorism to acknowledge this fact,” he said.
He said it was important to do away with unsubstantiated allegations as it undermined the efforts against terrorism.
“We wish India to share the investigation into the Samjhota Express tragedy and expect it to share the report in this regard,” he said.
About a recent interview of U.S. President Barack Obama urging Pakistan to take more serious steps against terrorism, the Spokesman said international community including the U.S. had already acknowledged Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to combating terrorism.
He mentioned that Pakistan had suffered enourmous human and financial losses in its counter-terrorism efforts.
“At present, Operation Zarb-e-Azb is recognized as the biggest counter-terrorism offensive being conducted against terrorism by a single country in the world,” he said.
The Foreign Office Spokesman dismissed a media report saying that the Saudi foreign minister had denied Pakistan’s mediatory role with Iran.
“Pakistan considers efforts for unity of Ummah and the Muslims as a sacred duty,” he said, adding that the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran had appreciated Pakistan’s initiative to reduce tensions between them.
“We are in touch with both the countries and our good offices remain available to them,” he said.
He said the Prime Minister would undergo a visit to Qatar in near future, for which the dates would be announced soon.
To a question about any pre-conditions set for the quadrilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the
U.S., he said all issues relating to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan would come under discussion.
About any roadmap chalked following the January 18th quadrilateral meeting, he said, “We have to wait for the outcome of the February 6th meeting to be taken place in Islamabad.”
The Spokesman said no dates had been finalized for the foreign secretary-level meeting of Pakistan and India, adding that the agenda would be settled later on.
When asked about Pakistan’s stance taken on finding the proofs of Charsadda attack linked with Afghanistan, he said the Afghan Charge d’affaires had been summoned to Foreign Office to lodge the protest.
He said relevant details had been provided to the Afghan authorities.
To a question about Pakistan’s concern over the bombs dropped by an Indian Air Force jet in Rajhastan, very close to the Pakistan border, the Spokesman said report was being sought from the mission in New Delhi following these media reports.
Earlier, the Spokesman and the mediapersons offered Fateha for the departed soul of former foreign minister Sahabzada Yaqoob Ali Khan before the start of the briefing.
